Having a hard time deciding between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheiikh for your Red Sea holiday? Why not pick both? Albeit located on opposite coasts of the Red Sea, both cities are well-connected to each there. This is how to get from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh.
In this article, we will explain to you what happened too the ferry service between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, how to get to Sharm El-Sheikh in 2026 and where to stay in Sharm El-Sheikh from budget hotels to luxury resorts.
Key Takeaways
- Direct flights from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh operate only on Thursdays and Sundays, taking about 55 minutes and costing around $92 per adult.
- The cheapest travel option is taking two buses via Cairo, which takes over 20 hours and costs about $22.
- Private transfers offer the most convenience, with door-to-door service taking around 12 hours and prices starting from 3,000 EGP for a private driver.
- The ferry service between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh is no longer operating and has no plans to resume.
Table of Contents
3 Sharm El-Sheikh Hotels We Can Vouch for
Planning your transfer to Sharm El-Sheikh? Wrap up your travel planning and book your Sharm El-Sheikh hotel as well. These are three hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh – from budget to luxury – we can actually vouch for:
Name | Price | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
Budget | Turquoise Beach Hotel | from $ 57 per night | |
Mid-Range | Grand Oasis Resort | from $ 188 per night | |
Luxury | Baron Palms | from $ 215 per night |
Is the Hurghada Sharm El-Sheikh Ferry Still Operating?
For years, the Hurghada Sharm El-Sheikh ferry was the go-to link between Hurghada on the Egyptian mainland and Sharm El-Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula. The ferry service was, however, suspended during the covid pandemic and has never returned since.
Let’s be very clear about this. The public ferry between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh does not exist anymore. There are still websites claiming there is a service running, but all of this information is outdated. Currently, there is no information on the ferry reopening in the near future.
After the ferry service, direct flights are the only option to cross the Gulf of Suez directly to get to Sharm El-Sheikh from Hurghada. Alternatively, you can also drive around the Gulf of Suez by bus or private transfer to get to Sharm El-Sheikh.
The 3 Best Travel Routes from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh Explained
Now that the ferry service between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh has been suspended indefinitely, there are three travel routes left for you to decide between: direct flights, bus transfers via Cairo and direct private transfers to Sharm El-Sheikh.
We’ll break down each of the 3 best travel routes from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh for you:
Getting to Sharm El-Sheikh by Plane (The Fastest Option)
The easiest and fastest way to get from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh is a direct flight from Hurghada International Airport (HRG) to Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (SSH).
Directs flight between Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh are operated by Air Cairo on Thursdays and Sundays, taking a little less than an hour in total. These nonstop flights usually cost around $ 92 (or 80 €) per person, including both cabin and checked luggage.
If you are not travelling on a Thursday or Sunday, you will have to take a connecting flight with a transfer in Cairo since no other airlines fly direct routes between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh. The shortest connecting flights via Cairo take at least 4.5 hours and cost upwards of $ 239 (or 207 €) per person.
At Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (SSH), all that’s left for you to do is taking a taxi to your hotel. We cannot recommend booking taxis on the spot at the Airport since drivers tend to charge extortionate fees there. Instead, arrange a transfer with your hotel beforehand or hail a ride on the application InDrive.
The Fastest Option at a Glance
- Direct flights between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh operate on Thursdays and Sundays.
- The flight to Sharm El-Sheikh takes 55 minutes and flight tickets start from $ 92 per person.
- On the other weekdays, you may opt for a connecting flight via Cairo.
- Organise your hotel transfer in Sharm El-Sheikh in advance or use InDrive upon arrival.
Getting to Sharm El-Sheikh by Bus via Cairo (The Cheapest Fares)
The cheapest way to get from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh is taking two connecting long-distance buses with a transfer in Cairo.
If you are not travelling on a Thursday or a Sunday or looking for a cheaper transfer from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh, this bus journey might just be what you are looking for. Getting from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh by bus is possible, if you are willing to invest a little more time and planning.
First, book a bus trip from Hurghada to Cairo. The trip from Hurghada’s main bus station to Cairo’s Tahrir Station takes around 8 hours and costs 550 EGP per person. In Cairo, transfer on to the next bus to Sharm El-Sheikh. This trip takes another 10 to 12 hours with tickets starting from 550 EGP per person.
We recommend booking with GoBus since we’ve had the best experiences with them, but you may also opt for one of the other bus operators such as We Bus, Blue Bus and East Delta Travel. Plan for delays on this route; the checkpoints at the Suez Canal regularly take longer than scheduled.
The Cheapest Option at a Glance
- There are no direct bus connections between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh.
- You can get to Sharm El-Sheikh by taking a bus to Cairo first, then transferring to a bus to Dahab.
- The full trip will take well over 20 hours and cost 1,100 EGP per person, less than $ 22.
- Plan for delays; there are multiple checkpoints along the way.
Getting to Sharm El-Sheikh by Private Transfer (The Most Convenient Option)
The most convenient way to get from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh is a door-to-door private transfer in a mini bus.
If you don’t fancy any of the Sharm El-Sheikh flights, but also don’t want to spend a full day on a bus, booking a private transfer from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh might be your way to go. Don’t worry, it’s not as expensive as it sounds.
The direct route from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh covers more than 750 kilometres and takes around 9 hours of nonstop driving. Realistically, a private transfer can take you to Sharm El-Sheikh in 12 hours. Considering the door-to-door service, this doesn’t take much longer than a connecting flight via Cairo.
Pricewise, you can go either of these two directions: 1) booking a ride in a private car w/ a private driver through the InDrive app, starting from 3,000 EGP, or 2) booking an official private transfer in an air-conditioned mini bus, starting from 10,000 EGP and save money by sharing it with other travellers.
The Most Convenient Option at a Glance
- A private transfer to Sharm El-Sheikh covers a little more than 750 kilometres in 9 hours.
- The actual transfer time from door to door will be closer to 12 hours overall.
- For the cheapest fare, book a ride with a private driver on the InDrive app, starting from 3,000 EGP.
- For a more comfortable ride, book a private transfer in a mini bus, starting from 10,000 EGP.
Where to Stay in Sharm El-Sheikh (Our Experience)
Over the years , we have been to Sharm El-Sheikh several times, either passing through on our way to Dahab, or for a classic resort stay. Drawing from our personal experience, these are the best hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh from affordable stays to luxurious getaways.
Turquoise Beach Hotel
The Turquoise Beach Hotel is a lower-end resort hotel in Sharm El-Sheikh located centrally in Sharm El-Sheikh’s Mala Bay. Without a doubt, this hotel’s main selling point is its affordability. Starting from $ 57 per night, this resort hotel offers one of the most affordable all-inclusive stays in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The affordable rates come with a few caveats though. The Turquoise Hotel’s installations have definitely seen better days. The rooms as well as the pool area and the dining spaces are rather rustic, but well-maintained and generally clean. Food service is solid, but rather restrictive for stays longer than two days.
Despite being budget resort, the Turquoise Hotel features its own ‘private’ beach. It offers sun beds, additional massage services, and an easy beach entrance. The beach itself is far from spectacular. It doesn’t feature any coral reefs or significant marine life and the views are rather unspectacular as well.
Overall, the Turquoise Beach Hotel is a solid pick for budget travellers looking to relax for a few days and travellers passing through on the way to other destinations on the Sinai Peninsula.
| Name | Best for | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Turquoise Beach Hotel | Stopovers, Budget Travellers | from $ 57 per night |
Grand Oasis Resort
The Grand Oasis Resort is one of Sharm El-Sheikh’s leading mid-range resort hotels and an excellent pick for most vacationers headed for Sharm El-Sheikh.
This resort hotel features spacious air-conditioned rooms, 3 swimming pools, a spa and wellness centre, 4 restaurants (both buffet-style and à la carte), 3 bars and a private beach. On the private beach, you find both a shallow beach entrance and a jetty leading to a coral reef which is well-worth a dive.
Tastewise, the buffet is pretty standard, while the à la carte options usually get a better rep. Just don’t forget sure to make a dinner reservation for the à la carte restaurants. As for cocktails, the quality is comparable to other resort hotels in Egypt – not great, not terrible.
Located in Sharm El-Sheikh’s Shark Bay, the Grand Oasis Resort sits at the sweet spot between most of the city’s attractions as well as Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport (SSH). SOHO Square is just a 5- minute drive away, the airport is about 15 minutes away from the compound.
Name | Best for | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Grand Oasis Resort | Families, Leisure Travellers | from $ 188 per night |
Baron Palms
Arguably the best pick for honeymooners and romance travellers, the Baron Palms is an adult-only resort hotel located in Sharm El-Sheikh’s Ras Nasrani Bay just 15 minutes from the airport.
Following a boutique concept, the Baron Palms Resort offers a much more private and calm getaway cutting out most of the noise and chaos that you might encounter in a family resort. It features an outdoor pool with an integrated hot tub and a private beach.
In terms of food and drinks, the Baron Palms Resort left the best impression on us, with daily specials at the general buffet and delicious bites at the à la carte restaurants. Since we were travelling on our birthday weekend, we were lucky enough to get treated to some extra cake and drinks.
On the private beach, you can enjoy a shallow beach entrance as well as a coral reef accessible from shore. Just a short boat ride away, there are some incredible dive sites such as the Gordon Reef, Thomas Reef, Woodhouse Reef and Tiran Islands. What more can you wish for?
Name | Best for | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Baron Palms | Honeymooners, Romance Travellers | from $ 215 per night |
The Bottom Line
If you are lucky enough to be travelling from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh on a Thursday or Sunday, you will get to take one of the cheap flights between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh operated by Air Cairo. On other days, you may either take connecting flights via Cairo, connecting overnight buses via Cairo or a private transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a ferry from Hurghada to Sharm El Sheikh?
No, the ferry service from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh does not exist anymore. The passenger ferry from between Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh was suspended during the covid pandemic and never reopened again. There has been no information on a possible reopening either.
Can you go to Sharm El Sheikh from Hurghada?
Yes, absolutely. The fastest option to go from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh are direct flights on Thursdays and Sundays. The cheapest option is a combination of overnight buses via Cairo. The most convenient option is a private transfer to Sharm El-Sheikh.
Is it better to go to Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada?
Both Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada are known for their resort bubbles with all-inclusives, pools and private beaches. If you want to pick one over the other, it will be for the attractions closely. From Hurghada, you can explore Mainland Egypt; from Sharm El-Sheikh, you can explore the Sinai Peninsula.
How long is a flight from Hurghada to Sharm El Sheikh?
A direct flight from Hurghada to Sharm El-Sheikh takes just 55 minutes. These direct flight only operate on Thursday and Sunday, however. On the other days of the week, you need to transfer in Cairo, with flight times surging to at least 4.5 hours.
Hey! We are glad you are curious about travelling the Middle East.
We are Nancy & Elias.
Over four years of backpacking and digital nomading made us fall in love with the Middle East. We have lived on the Red Sea coast in Egypt, lived in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan and travelled 6+ Middle Eastern countries overland.
As we continue to travel, we share our battle-tested travels advice on this blog, from travel reports and transfer guides to accommodation recs and saving hacks.
